Edward Low

At a Glance

• Born: 1690
• Died: 1724
• Active period: 1690–1724

An English-American man who turned to piracy two years after his wife died in childbirth. Though he was only a pirate for three years, he oversaw a fleet of three or four ships, and captured and burned hundreds of others. He was known to be ruthless and had a reputation as a torturer and murder. He had a soft spot however; he refused to press-gang married men and always allowed women from ships he plundered to return safely to port.

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After his wife's death, low tried to make an honest living as a rigger. On one occasion his captain told him he and his hungry crew would have to make due with a ration of rum. In response, Low picked up a musket and fired at the captain, hitting another man in the throat. After the failed mutiny, Low and his crew, which included Francis Farrington Spriggs, went full pirate and took over a small sloop off the coast of Rhode Island.